Corporate Social Responsibility at Grameenphone

Grameenphone the leading telecommunications operator of Bangladesh is part of Telenor Group

which has presence in 13 markets across Europe and Asia. Grameenphone started its journey
with the Village Phone program, a pioneering initiative to empower rural women of Bangladesh.
The name Grameenphone translates to “Rural phone”.

It starts its journey on 26th March the Independence Day of our Bangladesh. It is the first
telecommunication company which introduces GSM technology in Bangladesh. Grameenphone
has built the largest cellular network in the country .Today approximately 99 percent of
country’s population is with its network coverage.

Grameenphone is one of the largest taxpayers in the country, having contributed in direct and
indirect taxes to the Government over the years. In September 1999, Grameenphone introduce
the first pre-paid sim in Bangladesh. In October, 2013, it launched 3G service .Today,
Grameenphone is the leading and largest telecommunications service provider in Bangladesh
with more than 55 million subscribers as of October, 2015.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Grameenphone:

Grameenphone believes that Telecommunication technology can empower people to bring

positive changes in their lives. The work of Grameenphone is not just about ensuring
connectivity; it is about connecting with people and building a relationship based on trust with
our subscribers, business partners, employees, shareholders as well as the wider community. As
theCompany continues to connect people with essential services, it is also looking into the ways
to use its core expertise for social development especially in the areas of Health, Education and
Climate. Such approaches are supportive of Company’s vision “Empower Societies.

CSR for Health:

VTS service for Anjuman Mufidul Islam:

Page 1 of 7
Anjuman Mufidul Islam (AMI) is a very well-known name across the country for the nature of
the services they offer. AMI is the only organization which provides free burial services, free
ambulance services to all irrespective of caste and creed, and also relief and assistance to the
destitute and deprived community.Grameenphone provided Tracking System devices to
Anjuman Mufidul Islam.

AMI attends more than 500 calls for free ambulance service through a pool of around 32
ambulances on a daily basis.With the aim to ensure proper usage and enhance efficiency through
appropriate monitoring of these ambulances, GP proposed the Vehicle Tracking System (VTS).
Under the agreement, GP provided 32 VTS devices free of cost.

Free eye Camp:

Bangladesh has the highest number of blind people compared to its population. There are a lots
of adult and children in Bangladesh who are blind due to cataract and could have easily be cured
with proper care.The major challenge in eliminating blindness in Bangladesh is reaching the
rural and underserved population, cause the majority of country’s eye-care facilities are based in
towns. 80 percent of Bangladeshis who live in rural areas are almost completely deprived of eye-
care services.

Grameenphone organizes free eye camps throughout the country, in areas where eye-care
services are not readily available. Grameenphone, along with Sight savers International,
organizes the eye camps in different parts of the country. Prior to the eye-camps, community-
based public announcements are carried out in targeted localities to ensure optimal participation
in the community. During the eye camps, two types of services are provided: free prescriptions
based on necessary medical check-ups and free cataract surgery.

Safe Motherhood and Infant Care (SMIC):

Motherhood is celebrated as one of the most extraordinary times in a woman's life. But the
reality in Bangladesh is striking.

Reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health have been identified as two of the
United Nations’ eight millennium development goals. Grameenphone’s Safe Motherhood &
Infant Care Project is designed to ensure free yet quality safe motherhood and infant care

Page 2 of 7
services to poor mothers and their infants throughout the country. It also aims to assist in
necessary infrastructure development and the expansion of basic healthcare services, especially
in the hard-to-reach and remote areas. The project was launched in 2007.10 motorized vans were
provided to facilitate better patients’ referral and home delivery (HD) services by skilled birth
attendants. Four clinics-on-wheels are used to increase the accessibility of services in the hard-
to-reach areas.

National Immunization DAY (NID) Campaign:

GP partnering with Bangladesh Government and WHO has been conducting polio vaccination
awareness raising campaign since 2007 in order to eradicate the re-emergence of polio from
Bangladesh. Campaign activities are including SMS reminder, RJ endorsement (FM radio),
awareness through folk songs, mobile vaccination centers, press ads etc.

CSR for Education:

Million Free Internet Hours for 250 Schools:

Grameenphone envisions building a digital future for Bangladesh and empowering societies by
providing “Internet for all”. Grameenphone has launched a nationwide program to provide 2.1
million free Internet hours to 250 schools for 100,000 students across the country with the
support from BRAC.

The initiative is part of global "Safer Internet" aimed at creating awareness about internet safety
for young users.This program aims to help broaden access to the world of information and
communication technology (ICT) for school children, especially those living in rural
Bangladesh. The campaign will aid in creating equal opportunity to access educational content,
news, information and knowledge for all.

Online School:

The concept of ‘Online School’ has been conceived to find a way through which quality
education could be provided in the remotest parts of the country.The first pilot Online School
started in August 2011 with 80 students in Gazipur. At present there are ten Online Schools
sharing knowledge with 699 under privileged students. Teachers situated in Dhaka conduct

Page 3 of 7
classes using video conferencing technology with the aid of moderators in the actual class. In this
initiative, Grameenphone has partnered with JAAGO and the technical support is provided by
Agni Systems Limited.

Alokdeep: Non-Formal Primary School cum Cyclone Shelter:

Cyclone SIDR struck Bangladesh in November 2007 and this caused extensive damages.
Alokdeep aims to provide shelter when natural calamities strike. It otherwise will act as a place
to provide non-formal primary education to the poor population of the community.

Grameenphone, as part of its rehabilitation plans in the SIDR affected areas, committed to
provide financial assistance to build four non-formal primary school-cum-cyclone shelters
named as ‘Alokdeep’ in the southern belt of the country. RDF and Shushilan, the two local
NGOs that operate in the selected areas are responsible for the overall management of the project
which includes the construction and operation of the schools. Each of the Alokdeep consists with
a two-storied building along with adjacent playground.According to the plan, constructions of all
four Alokdeeps have been completed and are open for use whenever it is necessary. Two of the
Alokdeeps have already started their operation as non-formal primary school and it is expected
that the other Alokdeeps will start similar operation in the near future.

Grameenphone also give service or take initiative for many sectors, such as;

Emergency Relief Efforts for Flood Victims:

Grameenphone has joined in the emergency relief efforts in the flood-affected areas.Distribution
of relief materials is being done by a large number of volunteers from Grameenphone in
collaboration with the members of the Joint Forces, local government authorities and different
CSR partners of Grameenphone. 

Partners with Microsoft:

In November 4, 2009 Grameenphone partnered with Microsoft to use Microsoft Digital Literacy
Curriculum in order to increase IT literacy among the rural people across the country. The
Digital Literacy Curriculum a unique e-learning module which will educate people on relevant
IT skills such as basic computer skills; accessing the internet and world wide web; using

Page 4 of 7
productivity applications; understanding computer security and privacy; and leading a digital
lifestyle.Microsoft is providing this digital literacy curriculum including examination free of cost
for this initiative. Under the terms of the agreement Microsoft will provide licensed e-learning
content to each authorized GPCIC, Alok Deep, Information Boat and educational institution.

‘Smart Farmer, Smart Future’ campaign:

Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development (BIID), Grameenphone and Department of

Agricultural Extension (DAE) came together for this promising campaign “Smart Farmer, Smart
Future” targeting the young farmers for demonstrating value through positioning agriculture as
a distinct profession highlighting the benefits of ICT enabled agricultural extension service. The
campaign also had an aim at engaging youth farmers and agri-businesses through active
participation in the competition with a bundle of incentives including prizes and recognition,
along with building awareness of ICT enabled service propositions, and inspire& motivate the
relevant stakeholders including the local information centres and supplier.

Krishi Sheba Service:

In this month December 2015, Grameenphone launched a one-of-a-kind agriculture based

service GP Krishisheba 27676 to facilitate informed decision-making by farmers by providing
them customized voice consultancy services. Using the service, farmers will be able to access
pertinent information on farming of crops, vegetables, fisheries, livestock and also nutritional
requirements.

Climate Change Program:

Grameenphone being a socially responsible company adopted systematic processes to ensure

that, wherever possible, we manage and mitigate the probable negative impact of our business
activities on the environment.

Grameenphone's Climate Change Program was initiated in early 2008 with a vision for reducing
carbon emission, being environment friendly and creating a momentum with the community and
people.

Page 5 of 7
Reference:

http://www.grameenphone.com/search/node/CSR?page=1

http://www.grameenphone.com/about/our-story

http://www.grameenphone.com/about/corporate-information/corporate-responsibility

http://www.grameenphone.com/search/node/CSR?page=1

http://www.assignmentpoint.com/business/human-resource-management/corporate-social-
responsibility-of-grameenphone-ltd.html

Page 6 of 7
Page 7 of 7